Nikon BLACK RANGEX 4K: 7 Reasons Why You Need One

A good laser rangefinder is an essential piece of gear for hunters and the Nikon BLACK RANGEX 4K stands head and shoulders above any other rangefinder I’ve used.

I think we can agree that having a good quality laser rangefinder can really make hitting your target easier while hunting. However, if you have been into any sporting goods store, then you’ve probably seen dozens of different ones for sale.

With all of those choices, which one should you buy?

I’ve dealt with the same problem and to be perfectly honest with you, I’ve purchased more laser rangefinders than I care to admit. Though I’ve spent a lot of time and money using rangefinders that didn’t leave me satisfied, those experiences also helped me learn a lot about what you should look for when purchasing one. So, when the folks at Ochocos Outdoors sent me a Nikon BLACK RANGEX 4K laser rangefinder to evaluate, I put everything I’d learned about rangefinders to the test.

In this post, I’m going to share what I’ve learned from testing the new BLACK RANGEX 4K laser rangefinder over the past couple of months and show you you why this rangefinder is such an essential piece of hunting gear.

Note: The links to Ochocos Outdoors on this post are affiliate links. This means I will earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you make a purchase. In fact, they offer a price match guarantee and free 3 day shipping, so you’re guaranteed to get the best deal on hunting and shooting gear with them.

This helps support the blog and allows me to continue to create free content that’s useful to hunters like yourself. Thanks for your support.

It Has A Really Long Effective Range

Just like the name suggests, the Nikon BLACK RANGEX 4K laser rangefinder has a maximum range of 4,000 yards (3,650 meters) for a reflective target. According to the manual, the rangefinder also has a maximum measurement range for a tree out to 1,700 yards (1,550 meters) and a deer out to 1,500 yards (1,370 meters).

That’s a pretty impressive claim by Nikon, but can the BLACK RANGEX 4K provide an accurate range to targets over 2 miles away?

In short, the answer is yes.

I’ve tested this rangefinder pretty extensively in the mountains around where I live. Lots of bright sunshine combined with low humidity and blustery winds all combine for some of the worst conditions possible for a laser rangefinder.

Even so, I was able to successfully range individual cows at ranges out to 2,300 yards, a water cistern at 3,458 yards, and a car at 3,874 yards. The farthest target I ranged was a building at 3,921 yards.

I compared several of the long range measurements obtained with the laser rangefinder to those I obtained with my GPS and the results matched up almost perfectly.

That sort of performance alone puts the Nikon BLACK RANGEX 4K laser rangefinder in a completely different league from most other rangefinders out there. But that’s far from the only awesome feature of the BLACK RANGEX 4K.

First vs Last Target Priority

When the US Army first adopted M1 Abrams tank in 1980, it incorporated a state of the art fire control system. Among other things, the Abrams has a laser rangefinder and the gunner can select between “First Return” and “Last Return” settings.

Why do we care about this? Well, the Nikon BLACK RANGEX 4K has a similar feature.

What used to be cutting edge technology that cost tens of thousands of dollars now fits in a handheld laser rangefinder priced at less than $500.

Nikon calls it “Tru-Target Technology,” but the idea of having different ranging modes is the same as the feature I just described on the Abrams tank laser rangefinder. This gives users the ability to switch back and forth between first and last target priority depending on prevailing conditions as well as the sort of target in question.

Trying to range a small object (like a fence post) that doesn’t have anything else close behind it? Use first target priority. This will help you measure the distance to that object without getting false returns from something else several hundred yards or more downrange.

What if you’re trying to measure the distance to a target at longer range? Or maybe something that has some vegetation in front of it? What about trying to range something with a lot of blowing dust in the air? The distant target priority mode is ideal for all of these situations.

In each case, with just a couple presses of a button, this great feature on the Nikon BLACK RANGEX 4K laser rangefinder allows the user to get the best possible measurements to a wide variety of targets under many different of conditions.

Angle Compensating Technology

Do you bow hunt from a tree stand or take shots at extreme incline or decline shooting angles? If so, then taking advantage of angle compensating technology will really make it easier for you to calculate the True Ballistic Range to your target. It all depends on the range and angle that you’re dealing with (it’s more important at longer ranges and/or larger angles), but failing to calculate the true ballistic or horizontal range can easily be the difference between a hit and a miss.

Fortunately, the Nikon BLACK RANGEX 4K laser rangefinder incorporates Nikon’s ID (Incline/Decline) Technology that rapidly and accurately calculates the horizontal distance to the target at virtually any angle.

Like the first vs last target priority, you can easily turn the ID technology feature on and off with the BLACK RANGEX rangefinder. The photos below show the difference between the straight line range (left) and the horizontal range (right) to a distant hilltop at about a 13 degree angle. 

Extremely Fast Measurements

I’m very impressed at how quickly the Nikon BLACK RANGEX 4K laser rangefinder measures the distance to targets. Nikon calls this feature hyper-read technology. Even when ranging a target really far away or at an extreme angle, it calculates and displays the distance almost immediately.

I compared the BLACK RANGEX 4K to my Leupold RX-850i laser rangefinder and the Nikon rangefinder absolutely left the Leupold in the dust.

Easy To Read Adjustable Display

All of the other laser rangefinders I’ve used in the past have had dim and difficult to read displays. In fact, this has been one of my biggest complaints with laser rangefinders in general. After all, what good is a rangefinder if I can’t read the range it measured for me?

However, that’s not a problem with the BLACK RANGEX laser rangefinder and it has a red OLED display that’s by far the easiest to read and brightest display I’ve ever used in a rangefinder. The high visibility display also has selectable brightness, so you can set it up perfectly regardless of whether you’re hunting in dark timber at the crack of dawn or at noon on a sunny day.

Waterproof, Durable, & Easy To Use

Though I wouldn’t dunk it in water or anything, the Nikon BLACK RANGEX 4K is indeed waterproof. So, you can use it in the rain or in high humidity conditions without worry.

You know how some optics just feel fragile in your hands? Well, that’s not the case with the BLACK RANGEX 4K. This rangefinder feels really rugged and well built.

It’s also really easy to use and has a wide field of view. Powered by a CR2 lithium battery, you just need to press the “PWR ON” button once to turn the rangefinder on, line up the target in your crosshair, and then hit the same button again to measure the distance to the target. Simply press the “MODE” button a few times to adjust the brightness of the display, change the display unit between yards and meters, switch between horizontal distance or true ballistic range, or change between first and last target priority.

Reasonable Price

Here’s the real kicker: the Nikon BLACK RANGEX 4K Rangefinder has an MSRP of just $449.95. Considering how many advanced features they managed to fit into such a small package, I think that’s an incredibly low price.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t plan on leaving home without this laser rangefinder any time I go afield. If you need a great hunting rangefinder (particularly if you’re into extreme long distance shooting), then you really need to add the Black RangeX 4K to your wish list.

GET A NIKON BLACK RANGEX 4k HERE

OR GET A NIKON BLACK RANGEX 4k HERE

The Nikon Black RangeX 4K laser rangefinder also made cut for my 2020 holiday gift recommendations. To see what other stuff is on the list, check out the following article:

Awesome Holiday Gifts For Hunters In 2020

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NEXT: YOU NEED TO READ THIS LEUPOLD BX-5 SANTIAM BINOCULAR REVIEW BEFORE YOU BUY ANY NEW BINOCULARS

Endorsement Disclosure: Per the guidelines of the Federal Trade Commission, the product reviewed here is an endorsement and I received compensation by “in-kind” payment to review the product.